Demountable-rim wedge



G. E. VOORHEES, Jn.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM WEDGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYH, 1920.

1 ,385 $1299 Patented July 19, 1921.

72719 A fiozweys' nEr/rounrABLnRnvr wanes.

1,385,1l29, Specification of Application filed. illay 11,

T all 10710122. it may concern .7

Be it known that T, GEORGE EMMETT Vocal-Inns, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa Barbara, in the county of Santa Barbara, State of Cali- .fornia, have invented new .and useful Tmprovements in Demountable-Rim Wedges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels, and pertains particularly to means for locking demountable rims to the fellies of wheels.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a construction of the character described, whereby the rim may be slipped upon the felly and the means will automatically lock the rim in position. To remove the rim, one operation of compressing the means is sufficient to permit the rim to be removed. More iarticularly, this invention contemplates the provision of expansible locking wedges. In addition to the broader features of this invention, there are features of construction, whereby simplicity and strength of structure together with ease of manipulation are secured.

These objects will be more fully understood, as will also other objects and corre sponding accomplishments of my invention from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof. For the purpose of this description, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary radial section through the folly of a wheel, the rim and wedge, the rim being in position upon the wheel; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the rim partially removed; and F 3 is a side elevation of a fragment of an automobile wheel equipped with a pneumatio tire provided with my improved wedge.

Tleferring more particularly to Fig. 2, the hub of the wheel t having a fixed rim or folly 5 secured thereto by means of spokes 6 is shown. At uniformly spaced intervals about the felly 5, recesses '7 are formed. The recesses are provided with a shoulder 8. A demouritable rim 9 of suitable size for slipping over the felly is provided.

Mounted in the recesses are expansible wedges indicated generally by 10. The wedges are each formed of oppositely disposed arms 11 and 12 constructed to have a barb like head. The wedges are preferably made of resilient material such as spring Patented July 1 9, 1921. 1920. .Serial No. 380,548.

Letters Patent.

metal and are formed so that normally the arms are spread. A shank portion 13 of the upper armextending back of the head has at its outer end a lug l4.

The'rim 9 is formed on its inner side with an annular projection 15 adapted to fit within the recess formed back of the head and the lug 14. The shank portion 16 of the other arm has a downwardly extending lug 17 adapted to engage one side of the folly. The recess 7 conforms in shape with the lower face of the arm 11.

In order to place the demountable rim upon the wheel, the wedges 10 are contracted, as shown in Fig. 2. This permits the demountable rim to clear the lugs 14 as it is slipped into position upon the felly. After the rim is in the position shown in Fig. l, the wedges are permitted to expand. The rim rests upon the felly, and is held against moving therefrom in one direction by means of the lugs 14, and in the other direction by the shoulders 18. The wedges cannot slip from their position by reason of the shoulders 8 and let. It is obvious that to remove the demount-able rim, the wedges should be contracted. This is easily done by pressing arms 11 and 12 toward each other, whereupon the rim may be slipped off of the folly in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

It is obvious that I have provided means for securing a demountable rim to the wheel and looking it in position. To mount the rim upon the wheel or to remove the same, it is only necessary to contract the wedges. This is a simple operation. No bolts or nuts are required and time and labor are saved.

llhat I claim is:

1. In a wheel having a fixed rim provided with a plurality of recesses, each having a shoulder, the combination of a plurality of expansible wedges, each wedge having a face provided with a projection to rest against a shoulder, and a demountable rim having an internal shoulder, each wedge being provided with a shoulder on its opposite face to rest against the shoulder on said rim.

2. In a. wheel having a fixed rim provided with a plurality of recesses, each recess being provided with a shoulder, the combination of a plurality of expansible wedges, each wedge having a face provided with a shoulder to rest against one of said first mentioned shoulders, and a demountable rim having an internal shoulder, each wedge bei ig provided With a shoulder on its opposite face to rest against the shoulder on said demountable' rim and a lug to engage against the face of the Wheel and co-aet with one. of.

said shoulders to prevent lateral movement of sald demountable rim.

3. In a wheel having a fixed rim provided with a plurality of recesses, eachpreeesshaw-y ing a shoulder, the combination of a plurallty of expanslblewedges,;each Wedge havingja face 'PIZOVidQClWYltli a shoulder to" rest. against one of SL1ClfiI'StJIleIltlOIlBdSllOllldBI'S, and ademouutablewrlm having an internal;

shoulderfeaclr wedge being provided with a shoulderon its oppositefaee to rest against the shoulder on said rim and a lug. to vengage 1 the facehofsaid' fixed rim and alug to enapart and having a barbed head, said fixed rim haap'ingpiaplgurality of recesses conformmg to the contour of one side of each Wedge, and a rim havingwan lnteriial shoulder :to,

engage'the barbon the other side of each wedge.

In Witness that I claim'the foregoingl have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of May,'1920.

GEORGE EMMETT voonarrs, 1;. 

